Sleepless Tradesman vs Rated People
An honest side-by-side comparison — lead costs, features, and who each platform suits best. We'll be upfront about where Rated People wins too.
- ✓Tradespeople who want leads without paying per-contact fees
- ✓Anyone who needs invoicing and payments in the same app
- ✓Tradespeople who want AI-powered remote quoting
- ✓Getting set up quickly without an annual membership commitment
- ·Tradespeople who want immediate access to a large lead pool
- ·Established tradespeople with a budget for per-lead spend
- ·Trades where Rated People has a high homeowner presence
- ·Anyone who values the platform's long review history (since 2005)
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Sleepless Tradesman | Rated People |
|---|---|---|
| Cost per lead (tradesperson) | Free directory listing | ~£7–£25 per job lead |
| Annual membership fee | ❌ No annual fee | ✅ Annual membership required |
| AI-powered quoting tool | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Built-in invoicing | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Card payment collection | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Verified customer reviews | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Homeowner job posting | ✅ Free | ✅ Free |
| Mobile app | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Job scheduling | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Free plan (tradesperson) | ✅ Free forever tier | ❌ No |
Information accurate to June 2026. Rated People pricing varies by trade and location — check their website for current rates.
The Annual Fee and Per-Lead Cost
Rated People requires an annual membership before you can access leads, plus a per-lead purchase cost of roughly £7–£25 for each job you want to quote on. As a UK lead marketplace that's been operating since 2005, it has an established homeowner base — but that accessibility comes at a cost. A busy tradesperson purchasing 10 leads per month at £15 each is spending £1,800 per year on lead acquisition alone, before their annual membership fee.
Sleepless Tradesman has no annual membership and no per-lead charge. Tradespeople list their business in the homeowner directory for free, and homeowners find and contact them directly. The Pro subscription adds AI quoting, priority placement, and advanced features — but the lead generation itself is included at every tier, including the free plan.
Common Questions
Is Rated People more expensive than Sleepless Tradesman?
For most tradespeople, yes. Rated People requires an annual membership fee plus a per-lead cost of roughly £7–£25 for each job you choose to quote on. If you're contacting 5–10 leads per month, your annual spend can easily reach £500–£2,000 or more. Sleepless Tradesman has no annual fee and no per-lead charge — homeowners find you in the directory and contact you directly.
Does Rated People offer invoicing or business tools?
No — Rated People is a lead generation marketplace. It connects homeowners with tradespeople but doesn't include invoicing, payment collection, scheduling, or quoting tools. Sleepless Tradesman includes professional invoicing and card payment features alongside lead generation, so you can manage more of your business in one place.
How does Rated People's lead system work?
Homeowners post jobs on Rated People, and tradespeople can see and choose to purchase the lead to submit a quote. Each lead purchase costs between £7 and £25 depending on the job type and location. You may be competing with multiple other tradespeople who've also bought the same lead. Sleepless Tradesman doesn't use a lead purchase model — your free directory listing is visible to homeowners who contact you directly.
Which platform has better reviews?
Both platforms include verified customer reviews displayed on tradesperson profiles. Rated People has been operating since 2005 and has a large volume of historical reviews. Sleepless Tradesman is a newer platform with a growing review base. If review volume matters to you immediately, Rated People may have an existing advantage — though this will narrow as ST's user base grows.
Can I use Rated People and Sleepless Tradesman together?
Yes — many tradespeople run multiple platforms simultaneously. Rated People can generate immediate lead volume if you're willing to pay per lead, while Sleepless Tradesman builds a permanent public profile and gives you business tools like invoicing and AI quoting. The combination can be effective during the early stages of growing a trade business.
Try Sleepless Tradesman Free
No annual membership. No per-lead charges. Get a free public listing, AI quoting, and built-in invoicing for UK tradespeople.